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Hollywood mogul Tyler Perry is facing a US$260 million lawsuit filed Tuesday by actor and screenwriter Derek Dixon, best known for his role on Perry’s BET drama The Oval. Dixon alleges Perry used his influence to sexually harass, assault, and retaliate against him, accusing him of inappropriate behaviour and pressuring him with career threats when advances were rebuffed.
According to the complaint, Perry allegedly acted coercively, promising roles and pilot deals while crossing personal boundaries. Dixon reportedly suffered PTSD and left The Oval after re-porting the harassment.
In a statement, Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry and TPS Production Services LLC, called the lawsuit claiming the actor was subjected to a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” a “scam.” Boyd said, “Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”